Ram wants to rival Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor

Ram wants to rival Ford's F-150 SVT Raptor, which is acclaimed for being one mean purpose-built off-roader. Ram has tasked its Mopar performance division to design a high-speed off-roader of its own based on the new Ram 1500 half-ton pickup.

The debut of this car is expected at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.

PickupTrucks said that the truck hasn't been confirmed to be going into production and that for now, this project vehicle only aims to do some real world research.

According to sources, Mopar's primary consultant is veteran Baja racer Kent Kroeker who has had much success at racing through the Mexican desert.

Aside from that, Kroeker is also an accomplished businessman with his KORE off-road brand. It actually makes a lot of sense for these two companies to work together as KORE specializes in performance parts to modify Dodge trucks for serious dirt duty.

The Mopar-ized Ram's edge on the Raptor is that it features an independent rear four-link coil suspension setup, instead of a leaf configuration.

This type of suspension setup aids in high-speed handling over uneven terrain. Kroeker also has the chance to build a beefier suspension setup with longer travel, which allows for boosted-up speed even while on the dirt.

Meanwhile, the Power Wagon is a truck built on a heavy-duty three-quarter ton platform with solid axles front and rear.

It's a rock climber with a suspension that pushes for maximum articulation. The long-travel Ram 1500 will have a design that could absorb miles of desert ruts at high speed. The Easter Jeep Safari starts March 27 and ends on April 4.